24 Scoliosis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: any link?

Abstract Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an unusual aetiology of scoliosis in childhood. With few data in literature, the associated factors of scoliosis in JIA are still unknown. Objectives To describe the incidence and associated factors of scoliosis in children with JIA. Methods A cross-sectional study including children with JIA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR). The recorded data included anthropometric measurements (weight, size, body mass index (BMI), and leg length), disease characteristics (JIA subtypes and duration), and static foot posture disorders. Regarding scoliosis, we collected clinical and radiographic findings. Results Thirty-five patients, forty-three percent of the patients were boys (n = 15). The mean age was 12.2 ± 3.61 years. The mean disease duration was 4.1 ± 3.29 years. The mean patient global assessment and the mean visual analogic scale were 3.4 ± 3.02 and 3.37 ± 2.92, respectively. The patient's distribution of JIA subtypes was oligoarticular (n = 13), enthesitis-related arthritis (n = 9), polyarticular (n = 4), undifferentiated (n = 4), psoriasis-related JIA (n = 4) and systemic-onset (n = 1). The mean CRP and ESR were 7.51 ± 11.85 mg/l and 18.88 ± 15.53 mm, respectively. The mean JADAS was 7.58 ± 6.3. Seventeen percent of the patients had an inactive disease (n = 6). Seven patients (20%) (6 females) had developed scoliosis during their disease, the spine regions of scoliosis were thoracolumbar scoliosis (n = 6) and thoracic scoliosis (n = 1). There was no specific distribution of scoliosis among JIA subtypes (p = 0.464). Most patients with scoliosis had associated leg length discrepancy (71.43% vs 28.57%, p = 0.025). Static foot posture disorders were present in most patients with scoliosis (85.71% vs 14.29%) but this difference was not significant (p = 0.673) compared with patients with no scoliosis. Weight, size and BMI were not associated with scoliosis (p = 0.955, p = 0.922, p = 0.303 respectively). Conclusion Our study shows that scoliosis is associated with leg length discrepancy. Indeed, the joint inflammation of the lower limb may explain the postural syndrome in children with JIA, with a prompt impact on the axial skeleton.


Background
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is considered to be an autoimmune disease, which is a result of an immune reaction caused or triggered by environmental factors in a genetically susceptible individual. However, interactions between early feeding and risk Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) remains largely unexplored.

Objectives
To determine the impact of early alimentation on the occurrence of JIA in Tunisia.

Methods
We conducted a case-control study including 26 children with JIA fulfilling the international league against rheumatism (ILAR) 2010 criteria compared with a homogeneous control group of 21 children hospitalized in a paediatric orthopedic unit for traumatic reasons and healthy for any chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Parents of patients were asked after having their consent to participate. We collected the following data: Type of JIA, juvenile disease activity score (JADAS), type of feeding, total duration of breastfeeding, duration of exclusive breastfeeding and age at introduction of gluten. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1): JIA patients, group 2 (G2): control group. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. A pvalue < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results
Forty-seven children (26 diagnosed with JIA and 21 controls) with a mean age of 10.07 years AE 4.96 were enrolled. JIA subtypes were in decreasing order of frequency: oligoarticular (45.8%), enthesitisrelated arthritis (20.8%), undifferentiated JIA (12.5%), seronegative polyarticular JIA (8.3%), juvenile psoriatic arthritis (8.3%), and seropositive polyarticular JIA (4.2%). The mean JADAS was 6.966 AE 5.38. There was no significant difference between the G1 and G2 with regard to the duration of breastfeeding (12.23 AE 3.8 months vs 8.14 AE 4.1 months, p ¼ 0.09), exclusive breastfeeding (3.8 AE 3.6 vs 4.1 AE 2.62, p ¼ 0.40) and age at introduction of gluten (G1: 8.48 AE 5.30 months vs G2: 7.48 AE 1,2 months, Our study didn't show any impact of early alimentation on the occurrence of JIA in Tunisia. However, more studies are necessary to conclude these issues. Background Both these conditions are separate inflammatory conditions whose clinical presentation overlap and thus make their distinction difficult. Each has a criterion that allows diagnosis but since features overlap, diagnoses may be missed. Recent research also shows that both disease processes have similar underlying pathogenesis and involve interleukin 1; which have now raised the question of whether both these disease processes are distinct entities or conditions of a similar spectrum. Methods Medical records of from the inpatient admission at current and referring hospitals which included clinical history and examination, laboratory and radiological findings.

Results
13-year-old boy referred from Isiolo county with complains of unremitting fevers for 9 days with associated hip pains. Was initially treated for malaria, and started on broad spectrum antibiotics and antivirals. On further examination, was noted to have cracked lips, strawberry tongue, non-suppurative conjuctivitis and an anterior chest wall wheal like rash. Examination also revealed a left sided non tender submandibular lymph node. Initial laboratory investigations showed neutrophilia of 12.89, thrombocytosis of 431, CRP of 364 and normal joint radiographs. An ECHO done showed left ventricular enlargement with corresponding mild Mitral regurgitation. Blood cultures showed no organisms. Autoimmune markers and tropical fever markers were normal as well. He was then placed on prednisolone challenge and reported to be fever free for the first time in 12 days. Discussion and conclusion A persistent fever unremitting with parenteral antipyretics can have a multitude of differentials. In a tropical nation the likelihood of an infectious cause is more common than other aetiologies. Hence, it should always be investigated for thoroughly. In the case highlighted above, malaria, TB, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis and other infectious causes were investigated. Childhood malignancy can also present with the same. But of note is autoimmune conditions need to be considered. With history of arthritic like pain, quotidian pattern of fevers, evanescent salmon coloured chest wall rash and cervical lymphadenopathy, a diagnosis of Systemic Juvenile Arthritis needs to be considered. Often this may be overlooked or misinterpreted as Kawasaki's; which is a close differential; or Still's disease. There is a criterion for SJIA by the International League of Associations for Rheumatology, however, there can be an incomplete presentation as well. This adds on to the diagnostic challenge and hence, SJIA may remain undiagnosed for a long time.

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